What Do I Need To Provide My Child?
As a parent, there are many different responsibilities. In this article, we are going to focus on the responsibilities of what parents need to provide their children:
The bare minimum responsibility of a parent is to provide for your child’s basic needs: food, water, shelter, clothing, medical care and education. If you are struggling to provide any of these, there are many programs in your area that can help.
Food and water - you can contact your state Food Stamp program to inquire if you meet the requirements for food assistance. You can also contact local churches, food banks, your child’s school or family/friends for help.
Shelter - overall not only is there a shortage of housing in the U.S. today but increased interest rates make it more difficult to find affordable housing. There are many housing voucher programs available through county and city programs. Also continue to check housing websites a few times a day as you never know when housing may become available!
Clothing - to be more specific, clothing that is appropriate for the weather. There are constantly people trying to get rid of children’s clothing as they grow so fast. Ask friends and family to keep your child in mind when their child grows out of clothing. Check out social media as it always has posts of people either selling clothing for cheap or giving it away. Also consider going thrift shopping, as this will give your child the opportunity to select clothing at reasonable prices. Many churches and schools also have clothing drives during the beginning of the school year and winter months, so be on the lookout for those.
Medical care - it is recommended that everyone (children and adults) have at least a yearly physical from their doctor. Depending on your child’s age, age based vaccinations are recommended as well. If you don’t have medical insurance, you may be eligible through Medicaid or Obamacare to find free or affordable coverage. Always remember that hospitals cannot turn your child away from medical care due to payment!
Education - The law states that any child aged 6 years or older must be enrolled in school. It is always beneficial for your child to attend preschool if possible as it can prepare them for kindergarten and help with socialization. Also remember that when your child attends school, it is not only the teacher’s responsibility to ensure your child is learning but it is also the parent’s responsibility. Taking an active role in your child’s education not only helps your child understand the value of education but can also help to deepen your relationship with your child.
It is also a parent’s responsibility to provide your child with a safe environment:
Providing an environment that is free from physical, emotional or sexual abuse - this includes not only being directed at your child but also at someone else in your home.
Checking for any potential dangers or dangerous objects in your home, which depends on the age of your child, for example, you don’t need to worry about securing the cords on your window blinds for a teenager as you would with an infant. If you find any risks, be sure to correct them as soon as possible.
It’s also important to make sure your home is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, wear seatbelts and helmets and to lock your windows and doors at night.
Get to know the people who are in your child’s life. This includes not only family members and friends but also your child’s caregivers, teachers, coaches or anyone else your child interacts with.
If you are struggling with anything listed above, please know that you are not alone and that there is help available. It can be difficult to ask for help but it can also be difficult trying to find the right services for your child. If you’d like to discuss ways to improve your parenting, please feel free to reach out.
Sources:
https://parentcoachplan.com/article3.php
